Method and apparatus for the manufacture of artificial silk



A. HARTMANN 2,040,607

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK May 12, 1936 Filed April '7', 1954 2 SheetsSheet l May 12, 1936. I A. HARTMANN 2,040,607

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK Filed April 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 12, 1936 llhli'iE STATES eAres-rr METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE MAN- UFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK August Hartmann,

Berlin-Lichterfelde, Germany, assignor to American Bemberg Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Dela- 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of artificial filaments, but primarily has for its object to provide a novel device for facilitating the extrusion of the said filaments.

In one method of producing filaments, a solution is prepared and extruded to form filaments, the filaments being formed in and passed with a stream of flowing liquid.

It has, heretofore, been the usual practice in the manufacture of artificial silk to guide the threads, issuing from the precipitating fluid, around a stationary guiding rod whereby the change in the direction of the path of the thread caused the separation of the coagulating solution from the threads. This separation is an essential step in the process due to the subsequent treatment which the threads must undergo. The use of this guide rod works very well at low extrusion speeds but at high spinning speeds, damage to the threads results, because at the point of separation the pressure of the down fiowing precipitating solution tears the individual filaments. Difierent methods have been employed to overcome this disadvantage such as leading the precipitating liquid from the thread instead of the thread changing direction. In order to change the path of the liquid various devices have been attempted such as special pipe means, plates through which the filaments pass, etc.

All of the aforementioned devices have certain disadvantages. When pipes have been used, a

35. very exact adjustment is necessary which results in a complicated apparatus. The use of perforated plates does not effect a sufiicient and uniform separation.

The present invention has for its purpose a fundamentally different process whereby the filaments may be separated from the precipitating solution gradually and smoothly so that damage to the filaments does not result. This may be accomplished if below the outlet of the spinning funnel a plate is positioned which is either parallel with or at a slight angle to the path of flow of the liquid, and in such a manner that the liquid as it contacts with the guiding plate forms a wide thin film of solution from which the threads easily separate. The width and thickness of the film may be easily changed to comply with the spinning requirements by merely adjusting the angle of the plate with respect to the direction of fiow of the precipitating liquid.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to devise a means whereby the filaments of artificial silk may be separated from the precipitating solution in an efiicient and novel manner.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a novel means whereby the filaments may be separated from the precipitating fluid at higher spinning speeds than those ordinarily employed without damage to the filaments.

These and other objects will in part be pointed out and in part become obvious from a study of the following specification and claims when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lower portion of a spinning funnel with one form of the invention shown in operative relation thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of the invention in conjunction with a rotatable guide rod.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 with a modified form of the guide plate illustrated.

Figure 5 is a vertical section view illustrating how the form of the device shown in Figure 4 may be used with the usual type of guide rod.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a portion of a spinning funnel with another modification of the invention in operative relation thereto.

Figure '7 is a vertical cross section on the line 'i-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front elevation showing how the form of the invention shown in Figures '0 and 7 may be used in connection with a guide rod.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section on the line 88 of Figure 9.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts, and referring particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the nozzle of a spinning funnel is indicated at l. Positioned adjacent the outlet orifice 2 of the spinning nozzle l is a plate 3 which may be placed parallel to the stream of precipitating liquid but is preferably placed at a slight angle as shown in Figure 2.

A rod 4 having extending ends is formed integral with the plate 3. The extending ends may be pivotally mounted in suitable bearings so that the angle of the plate 3 may be adjusted to various angles.

It is readily seen how the precipitating liquid which reaches the plate as a round jet comes into increasing contact with the angled plate 3 and spreads into a thin layer with a considerable retardation in the speed of flow.

The larger portion of the precipitating liquid flowing along the plate 3 comes ofi both sides of the thread 5 and thus a smooth separation of thread and liquid takes place. The original liquid stream divides in two parts, which, due to surface tension, form a separate stream at either side of the thread as shown at 6 and 1 on the drawings.

In Figure 3 is shown how a rotatable guide rod 8 may be placed below the plate 3. When this is done the plate 3 is conoaved at 9 in order to have a closer relation with the guide rod 8. The rod 8 may be rotatably secured to the plate 3. With this arrangement the threads 5 are assured of more uniform guiding conditions. The channel 9 further ensures smoother flow of the precipitating solution.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a slight modification made in the plate 3 in order to facilitate the separation of the precipitating solution into the separate streams. In this form the plate 3 has extensions ID with a recess II formed in between for the passage of the filaments, thus making a position for the filaments to pass around instead of the edge of the plate 3.

In the modified form shown in Figures 6 and 7, the plate 3 has its lower edge bent to form a channel l3. The precipitating solution together with the filaments are extruded from the nozzle l, the precipitating liquid being received in the channel I3 which is humped at the center in order to separate the flow in two streams while the threads 5 which have been freed of the solution pass around and under the channel l3.

A trough is positioned below the plate 3. The plate 3 extends beyond the edges of the trough M which is recessed at I5 to receive the channeled portion. Acid is placed in the trough l4 so that the threads 5 at the turning point receive a furadvantages of the invention will be clearly ap- (iii parent to those skilled in the art.

What I' claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a spinning funnel wherein filaments pass downwardly through a flowing coagulating liquid, a guide plate positioned below the exit orifice of said funnel and adapted to extend into and at an angle of less than 90 to the path of flow of the coagulating fluid whereby the fluid is spread in a broad film and separation of the fluid from the threads takes place.

pass downwardly through a flowing coagulating liquid, a guide plate positioned below the exit orifice of said funnel and adapted to extend into and at an angle to the path of flow of the coagulating fluid whereby the fluid is spread in a broad film and separation of the fluid from the threads takes place, and a rotatable guide rod adjacent the lower edge of said plate around which the filaments pass.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination a spinning funnel wherein filaments pass downwardly through a flowing coagulating liquid, a guide plate positioned below the exit orifice of said funnel having a recess formed in the lower edge thereof with extensions on either side of said recess, said guide plate adapted to extend into and at an angle to the path of flow of the coagulating fluid whereby the fluid is spread in a broad film and a gradual separation of the coagulating liquid from the filaments takes place.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a spinning funnel wherein filaments pass downwardly through a flowing coagulating liquid, a guide plate positioned below the exit orifice of said funnel, said guide plate having a channel formed on its lower edge which extends into the path of said coagulating liquid, and around which channel the filaments are passed thereby separating said filaments from said coagulating liquid.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a spinning funnel wherein filaments pass downwardly through a flowing coagulating liquid, a guide plate having a channel formed at its lower edge, positioned below the exit orifice of said funnel, said channel extending into the path of flow of the coagulating liquid and separating said liquid from the filaments as they pass to one side and under said channel, a trough positioned beneath said channel, said trough containing a treating liquid through which said filaments pass as they pass under the said channel.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a spinning funnel wherein filaments pass downwardly through a flowing coagulating liquid, a guide plate having a channel formed at its lower edge, positioned below the exit orifice of said funnel, said channel extending into the path of flow of the coagulating liquid and separating said liquid from the filaments as they pass to one side and under said channel, a trough positioned beneath said channel, said trough containing a treating liquid through which said filaments pass as they pass under the said channel, a trough positionedbeneath said plate and having a thread guiding means mounted therein immersed in a treating solution, said filaments passing around said guide rod and through the treating solution.

'7. In a method for producing filaments of artificial origin, the steps of extruding the filaments into a downwardly moving stream of liquid and then spreading the liquid over a wide surface in a nearly' vertical plane so that separation of the filaments from the liquid may be facilitated.

AUGUST HARTMANN. 

